Negotiations have started between the Government Trustee Bargaining Committee (GTBC) and the Teachers Bargaining Committee to determine a new contract for teachers.

The GTBC, which is comprised of representatives from the Government of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan School Boards Association, has announced their offer, which encompasses raises for teachers over the course of three years.

On top of the one per cent salary increase to teachers on August 31 of this current year, the GTBC’s three year deal includes a one-time payment to teachers for the current 2019-2020 year as well.

Full-time teachers would receive a payment of $1500, which would be provided upon ratification of the agreement. Teachers who are part-time, would receive a prorated amount of the $1500.

Additionally, the proposal asks that these funds, totalling $18 million, would be re-purposed from the annual $22 million government-funded contribution to the extended health plan. The GTBC states this “will bring the extended health plan surplus closer to industry standards, while not reducing existing benefits.”

In 2020-2021, year two of the deal outlines a two per cent salary increase for teachers, followed by another two per cent increase in 2021-2022, or year three.

According to the 2017-2019 Provincial Collective Bargaining Agreement, effective August 31, 2019, the salary schedule for teachers ranges from $46,726 to $96,161, dependant on Step and Class.